Construction meets ArtPrize: How to navigate GR

posted by 24 Hour News 8 -
Sep 19, 2018

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — If you visit Grand Rapids for ArtPrize, you'll see plenty of artwork, but you'll also find something else: road construction. 24 Hour News 8 put together a map showing all of the roads that are currently closed in the city. The work is part of the 2014 voter-approved vital streets plan.

“Folks told us 'we want our roads to be better' and that’s what we’re trying to do," city spokesperson Amy Snow-Buckner said Friday. "Unfortunately because of our weather, we don’t have Florida weather 12 months out of the year."

That means projects typically happen during the summer season. The city’s yearly goal is to have some projects finished by the start of the major art competition, which draws thousands of people downtown.

“We work really hard leading up to ArtPrize to make sure that those main arteries are completed,“ Snow-Buckner said.

There is some good news for drivers: Westbound I-96 from Plainfield to Alpine reopened Friday, as did Ionia Avenue SW between Oakes and Cherry streets.